Carnivor is a protein powder made by MuscleMeds.
It’s a beef-based protein powder, designed to assist with improving muscle mass.
MuscleMeds is an American supplement brand, which was founded in 2012.
Ingredients Label
Active Ingredients
Beef Protein Isolate
Beef is a source of protein which has been shown to be extremely effective for muscle development.
Studies have found that it is at least comparable to whey protein in this regard (1).
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is an extremely well-researched supplement, which has been proven to be effective for increasing power output and endurance (2).
BCAAs
BCAA is an acronym for Branched Chain Amino Acid.
These are the amino acids that are most specific to muscle development: leucine, valine, and isoleucine.
BCAAs have been shown to reduce catabolic (muscle-wasting) hormone production, and minimise your recovery time (3).
Anabolic Nitrogen Retention Technology™
Anabolic Nitrogen Retention Technology™ – or ANRT for short – is a blend which prevents the build-up of ammonia and improves the “recycling” of amino acids.
Research of some of the ingredients in the blend support this (4, 5).
Who Takes It?
Athletes wanting a lean source of protein to enhance muscle growth and repair may enjoy using Carnivor.
How to Take
Mix 1 scoop (36.4g) with 250mL water or milk, and consume post-workout or as desired.
Side Effects
Excess protein consumption may worsen an existing kidney or liver condition.
Creatine may cause some water retention in the muscles.
Pros
- Added creatine
- Extra BCAAs
- Huge range of flavours available
- Lactose-free.
Cons
- Bad reviews on taste
- May not be any better than whey.
Conclusion
Carnivor is an interesting protein powder which uses beef protein rather than whey.
Although it’s an exciting thought at first, the research behind it shows that they are about as equally effective for strength and muscle gains. Carnivor, however, has an inferior taste to whey proteins in the opinion of many users.
The formula does include great extras including creatine, BCAAs, and more, however we’re not sure how much of each is included.
Unless you’re buying it for the lactose-free aspect, you may want to stick with whey.